I know this might sound hyperbolic, but this is seriously an improvement yet again. imikuzushi was my favourite record of last year (along with RIP), but this has probably topped it again. it has that really strong, ritualistic air of tima formosa and the spasmodic free-rock of in a flash..., but the recording isn't as over-saturated/distorted as the latter and imikuzushi, much more palatable. it's really beautifully recorded, and far more diverse than anything they've done before, with haino on flute for a track and charlemagne palestine, eiko ishibashi, o'rourke and ambarchi on wineglasses for another whilst haino plays guitar and does his shamanic vocal thing.

overall, it's their most psychedelic effort, and definitely up to the ridiculously high standards of their previous work. every person on the fucking planet needs to hear his shit.